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Forest Stewardship Council appoints Zandra Martinez as chairperson of its board of directors

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has announced the appointment of Zandra Martinez, from Oaxaca, Mexico, as the chairperson of its international board of directors.

“Our forests are under significant pressure, and we are running against time. At this moment, as the climate change crisis deepens, the land-use pressure is threatening forests and their biodiversity, and when human survival itself is at risk; we need to demonstrate that FSC is a relevant and fundamental tool for resilient forests and the crucial role they play in climate and biodiversity protection. The coming year will be when we need to prove and build on our promise,” says Martinez.

Martinez has served on FSC’s international board of directors since 2019. She has played a key part in shaping the FSC Global Strategy 2021-2026.

Martinez has been a part of FSC for over 20 years, having held different positions in the organization, including in the in the communications area, as a staff representative, and acting head of the communications unit.

“I will keep our work focused on achieving our 2021- 2026 Global Strategy and strengthening FSC as an organization of excellence and service. We have a mission and vision to guide us, the human values to trust, and the resources to make it possible. I look forward to serving as your Global Chairperson and welcome your concerns, criticisms, perspectives, ideas and support,” says Martinez.

Martinez is in office for the term starting from Jan. 1 and ending on Dec. 30 this year. She will be supported in her endeavours by Janne Näräkkä  and Per Larsson as vice-chairs and Ivone Satsuki Namikawa as treasurer.

The FSC international board of directors is made up of twelve elected representatives from FSC’s three membership chambers– economic, environmental and social. Each chamber is further divided into global South and global North.